Star Kid is a 1997note indie sci-fi/family movie that revolves around the adventures of one Spencer Griffith (Joseph Mazzello), a normal kid who found an alien spacesuit lying in a crater in his hometown, crawled into it, and got stuck inside. Soon enough he finds himself speaking to an alien A.I., transforming into an advanced tech version of a Super-Soldier, and having to save the Earth from Insectoid Aliens.
Unlike most kid heroes, Spencer never Jumped at the Call; he got shoved. Of course, that's not to say he won't have a little fun while he learns how to be a hero...
Not to be confused with the musical theatre production troupe Team StarKid.
The movie has many sci-fi–related tropes:
- Abusive Parents:
- Arguably with Spencer's dad Roland. He tries to be a good father, but he's too busy with his work. He also scolds his son for not waiting for him to pick him up from school, even though he was ridiculously late.
- Turbo's dad blames him for what Spencer/Cy did and continually refers to him as "his wife's" son.
- Adaptive Armor: The suit can create a cannon, a shield and who knows what else.
- Artifact of Doom: If Cy fell into the wrong hands, he would become this.
- Artifact of Power: Kinda, except Cy's a talking sentient suit.
- Big Bad: The unseen ruler of Brood Warriors.
- Bizarre Alien Biology: The fact that they seem to urinate from something placed at shoulder-bone height says a lot about the alienness of Cy's creators.
- The Bully: Turbo is definitely this to Spencer, pushing him, insulting him, being territorial and even spitting in his comic book. Dude is NOT nice.
- Bystander Syndrome: Spencer, after he convinced Cy to let him out. Even being told that the Brood Warriors will conquer Earth once they obtain Cy, Spencer is too afraid to do something about it but eventually comes around to.
- Calling Your Attacks: In this case, calling "code words" to make sure Cy doesn't blow up any innocent bystanders.
- Came from the Sky: How Spencer discovered Cy.
- Clingy MacGuffin: Cy the CyberSuit. He initially can't be removed until Spenser tests his combat capabilities in a field mission.
- Clothes Make the Superman: The combat suit again.
- Cool Teacher: Janet Holloway begins by helping Spenser with bullies and giving advice, then moves on to helping him with the alien issues.
- Diabolus ex Nihilo: The Brood Warrior certainly gives this impression.
- Embarrassing First Name: Turbo's real name is Manfred.
- "Eureka!" Moment: When Turbo figured out it was Spencer inside the alien suit who threw him in the trash, after his dad says the same thing Cy said to him, which Turbo said to Spencer earlier in the film (see Ironic Echo).
- Exact Words: Spencer is told he can't leave the suit until he has "engaged in a field combat situation". After a near-disastrous first encounter with The Brood Warrior, Spencer convinces Cy to let him out since the mission was technically accomplished: They didn't need to win a fight, just "engage" in one.
- Heroic Host: Spencer and Cy, the suit's A.I.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Of the non-dying variety, but still a sacrifice. When Cy ejects Spencer just before his power runs down completely.
- Humanoid Aliens: The midget aliens, known as the Trelkins who built Cy.
- Ironic Echo: "You are a USDA choice dead meat."
- Kick the Dog: The first time Turbo bullies Spencer, he makes a point to steal and actually spit into Spencer's comic book.
- Mecha-Mooks: The Brood Warrior army.
- Missing Mom: Spencer's mother died from an unspecified sickness two years before the events of the movie.
- Mistaken Identity: Cy mistakes a guy in a suit as being from another hostile species known to his creators.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Cy could occasionally be a little overzealous when using his weapons.
- Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot: The issue of MidNight Warrior advertises its story as "Rage of the Giant Nazi Zombie."
- Potty Emergency: Cy does have a means to release bodily fluids, but that part is locked and sealed with no way for Spencer to open it on its own. He needs his teacher to open the part.
- Powered Armor: The suit.
- Refusal of the Call: Cy tries to convince Spencer to put him on in order to defeat the Brood Warrior and save Earth, but Spencer is too scared to do it because he's just a kid and leaves Cy be. Though he tries to warn his family about the invasion, but his dad doesn't believe him. After being sent to his room, he realizes his mistake leaving Cy, so he returns to him and puts the suit on again to face the Brood Warrior.
- Robot Names: Cy the CyberSuit, very original.
- Scary Dogmatic Aliens: The Brood Warrior.
- Secret-Keeper: Turbo, about Spencers tenure as a Superhero.
- Spiteful Spit: Manfred or Turbo as he likes to be known, knocks Spencer's comic book on the ground as he's bullying him, spits in it, and shoves it back at him.
- Super Prototype: Cy is the first of his kind.
- Tastes Like Friendship: Subverted. Spencer tries to eat a hamburger through Cy's mouth, who then takes out all the good stuff. He thus turns it into a ball of beef-like eck.
- Tempting Fate: Spencer tells Cy that no dangerous aliens around, soon after, a Brood Warrior arrives on Earth.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Spencer says something along these lines when he gets ready to face the Brood Warrior.
- Wake Up, Go to School & Save the World: Averted. Sure, there is going to school in the prologue and epilogue, but the whole situation happens during one wild night.
- Wave-Motion Gun: Both Cy and the Brood Warrior are equipped with such weapons.
- What Is This Feeling?: Cy experiences humor, as he faked a malfunction which could cause him to explode while Spencer is wearing him.
- What Would X Do?: Discussed, which leads Spenser to decide to save the day like his favorite comic book character, MidKnight Warrior.Stacey: [Mom] said, "Think of someone you really admire, and ask yourself what they would do in that situation."
Spenser: What happened?
Stacey: Well, when I told her that person was the lead singer of Switchblade Nuns, she figured maybe that wasn't the right approach for me. But hey, I mean, it might work for you. - With Catlike Tread: At one point Spencer/Cy are moving noisily through the house and Spencer asks if Cy has a stealth mode. Cy replies that he is in stealth mode.
- You Have to Believe Me!: Spencer's teacher told Roland about his son and Cy, but he doesn't believe her and argues with her. Spencer returned home and confirmed everything (including the coming of the Brood Warriors), but he just tells him to go to his room. He then shouted when Spencer starts to argue. He did manage to see the spaceship of Cy's creators as it took off, but was more concern about his son at the moment.
